Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Penner has been the joke of the NHL this week, after it was revealed he was scratched from Saturday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets because of back spasms suffered while taking a bite of “delicious pancakes.” Of course, the usual fat jokes and Aunt Jemima references followed.

Or at least that’s how the media told it. Penner is not pleased about how his injury has been portrayed, even earning its own hashtag: #pennercakes. He submitted an open letter about what really happened that fateful Saturday morning to Kings blog Mayors Manor on Wednesday.

“Right off the bat, I’d like to clarify a few things,” he writes. “For example, they were vegetarian pancakes. The injury happened as I was sitting down to eat, not mid-bite. And yes, I did finish them. ”

He adds that sudden onset back spasms are a serious issue, so he hopes the attention will bring some light to the medical problem.

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“Frankly, I don’t mind the attention and there’s no such thing as bad press, right? Apparently, I made it onto ESPN‘s ‘Around the Horn’ and joined Kings’ ATH alumnus Dustin Brown (see water bottle incident) and have also became a twitter sensation overnight (with hashtag #pennercakes). So, I’m hoping to get an endorsement from IHOP or Denny’s.”